For months, guests staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa have had to navigate temporary check-in areas while the iconic hotel underwent a major lobby overhaul. Construction began earlier this year, and it drastically altered the way visitors arrived at the Victorian-themed resort. But the wait is now over: Walt Disney World Resort guests can once again check in at the Grand Floridian as intended.
Since its opening in 1988, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been one of the most luxurious accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort. The resort has long been known for its grand atrium-style lobby, elegant fixtures, and Victorian-inspired design. Earlier this year, though, Walt Disney World Resort announced plans to update the lobby, introducing new furnishings, custom carpeting, and the Disney Resort hotel’s first-ever lobby bar.
As construction crews demolished some of the original features, including the ornate metal birdcage, the check-in experience underwent a shift. Crews spent months demolishing the original check-in desk, leaving just a few outposts for guests to check into the Deluxe Disney Resort hotel.
Now, Disney has finally unveiled the updated check-in experience at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. On Monday, WDWNT reported that new individual check-in desks had debuted in the hotel lobby. Each desk features a leafy “GF” emblem and sits in front of an ornate pink window.
Part of the old counter has been replaced by a children’s lounge area, featuring new blue-and-gold carpet, colorful floral ottomans, and furnishings that hint at the aesthetic of the completed lobby. Behind construction walls, crews are putting the finishing touches on the birdcage-inspired lobby bar and removing much of the original carpet. The resort’s signature Victorian cage-style elevator is currently closed to guests as the surrounding area remains curtained off.
The cage-style elevator will reopen alongside the completed lobby, and the grand piano will also return. The updated Grand Floridian lobby is expected to fully debut by the end of the year. However, due to ongoing construction, the annual life-size gingerbread house display will be canceled for 2025.
What do you think of the concept art for the new lobby at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
